Target-projecting machine.



. L. REEVES.

lARGET ROJBCTING MAQHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.15,1912.

Patenflel Dec. 24,

@@war:

. L, REEVES.

TARGET ROJEGTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.15,` 1912.

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2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Eatented Deo. 24%,

IRA L. REEVES; F NATICK, MASSACHUSETTS.

TARGET-PROJECTING MACHINE.

Application med Afmi 15,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

1912. serial No. 690,689.

To all whom 'it .may concern:

Be it known that l, Ina L l'tnnvns. a cittzen ofthe United States. residmg at Natick,

v,in the county of l\"liddlese.\' and State ot' specification. v

rIvhis invention relates to target projecting. l

In the drawings accompanying and form ing part ot the present specification, I have representtal in detail one of the several Convenient t'orms of tunbodiment of the invention, which to enable those skilled in the art to'praetise the same will be set forth fully in the following description. while the novelty of the invention will be included in the claims succeeding said' description. .From this it will be clear that I do not limit myself to sut-h lshowing: I may depart theretrom in several respects within the scope Ot the vinvention included in said claims.

Referring to said drawings: Figure 1 is au end elevation partly in section of a target' involving my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation partly in section of the same. Fig. is a horizontal section on the line 3--3 of lf'ig. i. Fig. l is a detail view. in sectional elevation hereinafter more particularly eitil'ittl. ,l

Litre characters refer to like parts throughout the several figures of the drawlugs.

The dill'erent. parts of the apparatus-may be `supported 4in any desirable manner Such as by the framework shown. which comprises the base 5 and the standard or column t3 rising tlieretroni. "l`he base may rest upon any suitable 'ltmndatioin .is will hereinafter appear the machine involves in its operation one or more movable objects or target members. and such an ob- ,iet't or large member may be of any suitable character. co. sis-ting preferably but not. nect'essirily. ot' t ball or sphere which may be roade from oelluloid. composition, glass or any ot her convenient material, and asa mat-3 :er ol metta-ence l provide several of suehik (.bjerts or target members. lhen the appatalus is in action` these objects or target members are caused to travel in a circuit arl-'l during part ot thisl travel are in the line of vision of a marksman, at which time it is the object of the marltsman to strilte with a missile. the said object.

The apparatus preferably involves a coutainer for the target members, and this container may be of any suitable nature, for instance it may as shown consist of a hopper 7, which may be constructed in any desirable manner, although the body 8thereof is ordinarily of some suitable fabric such as textile material, in view ot which noise is praetically eliminated. The lower edge portion otthe body 8 is clamped between the plates or flangesl 9 and 10, the latter having a depending tubular portion 11 which constitutes the outlet for the hopperand through which the balls or equivalents can successively pass.

-ln the construction shown the upper edge of the substantially conical fabric body 8 is clamped between the hoops 12 and between said hoops-'and the lower Harige or plate 9 braces as 13 extend to thus hold the fabric body 8 in desired shape. The tubular member 11 'is tted for example by screwthreading, in the bent or curved-pipe 14 Which with the tube constitutes a duet or runway orthe balls after they leave the hopper or equlva? lent container 7. At the delivery end of the pipe 14 is operative a ta1get-meti1be1-for Werding device l5 which as representedis practically in the form of an arch or invert.- ed U. lNormally the open inner side of this arch-like forwarding member 15 is in register or coincidence With the outlet or discharge orifice of the pipe 14, So that When a ball leaves' the said pipe it will enter said .forwarding member and be advanced thereuby on the-movement thereof. 'lhe outer side oil the said forvvard11ig`mernber 15 is closed by the wall 1G. 4

The forwarding member 15 is shown pro vided at its ends with upwardly extendingl vcomplemental arms 17 fixed to the rock shaft. 18 supported by a bearing 19 on the side ot' the pipe .'14 which has a web or tiangc extending to the base 20 and which is attached by screws or otherwise, to the column 6. From this it Will be evident that the torwarding member 15 is oscillatory incharacter, although this is not essential. 1 This oscillatory forwarding member 15 coaets with the restor shelf 21,.the` upper side of which is on a curve concentric with the axis of 4"is opening' being very much lees il for impelling member 2L motion oi. the 'forwarding member l5 :red normally the seid .forwarding iiiei'oher overlies the said or shellt 21 showin io Fig. 2, so tiret the hell after il, leevee he tube or pipe i4 will o'oio Seid reel or shelf 21 and. Will he conined for 'the 'lime being, in the forwarding member 5 En tending downward from the rest 2l ie ihe inclined Way which leads to ihe sent 93 having at iis outer eide o stop Qelcoeeiei'iog; of e flange or lipf, lo lfhe construcliioo shown @he hree perle ill, Q2 and 213 :ire iliade in one, and l'he integ'al pere ie Provided with, e depei'iding iengge 25 iinsl'ened hy screws or otherwise to the column The hell support 523 has an oilaeoiog 2li io lier-w oorerily receive lh'ehell45 lhe diameler om the i. che 'illiie maximum dien'ieter oi? izhe heil, eo heil. cannot puse through seid opening. opening also provides for the prf oo-- eiiiooing oi' the hell lior action by mi Ihre peiling or equivalent member which device on its action is adapted to 'forcibly elevate or otherwise move ihe hall into the line oiz vision of the shooier.` The impelliog or equivalent device may be olf any suilelile im ture As shown it consists of en elc-omred spring 27 longitudinally edjueielily l lcored el; its hott between the eec'ioiie oil' ifoe -A ing; device 28 on the column or merite r j the free portion of the Spring being edepled lo operete against- :i heil While il; ie io the opening QG so es to impart mi accelerated upward movement thereto, end in the v"ree-- ent caee to project them above the hopper 8 and into the line of vision of the morlfsmen. It will be assumed that a bell has passed from Jche pipe 14 into the forwarding roem ber l5 and onto the s eli or support 230 and that seid forwarding device has been operuted from its normal position shown ir. Fi". 2 to its shifted posit-ion shown i1; Fig. On the motion of seid. forwarding device the bell is carried therewith, end es soon es it- Strikee the inclined wey 55:2 it travels down said Way and posses mbo 'the opening 2li Where it can be operated by the projecting' The projecti or impellingmember 27 'ie f:hou/1i hy jl'uil ooo dotted linee in its two positions in Fig. When "che epi-infr 27 ie reieesed ood Hice upward the hell will be projected thereby into the tube E29, theexis of which is coincident With the axis of the opening 26. This tube 29 is situated a short distance above lzlie ball support 23 und fitted oroundlits lower end is e hond or ring 30 formed. at the end eI" e shank 3l extending from the Hooge or plate lThe upper portion oi the t'uhe'l extends through the-body,1 8 ol the hopper.

The power of the projecting or impelling member 27 Will force 'the belle entirelyhreugh ehe guide duet or tube E29 and ehove the'hopper 7, and :it should he the min or' lie hopper The onhit hof l will then por come i o me pipe 1;

wheeled, so limi. seid. helle are p mused 'o follow e, circul, me:

vided es will hereirlefter rljpoeur to ille entre l, ig; the eche F/L.) Hopp f, "1.

' J 2T) no' i neme i'ooy very' es o charme were eelie'iecmily in diie cocmrciif'io, Seid pio heine; rigidly ,foiioef. i 'wiih :md cider ding l; rally' ifoe I l pinion honig clip-- glicrled r4 pee-lively umn l :1 ed e l'rcriog dil rising; e "croie The che "n: lhc pinion 3l r o carries iihe wl icl which may he oper: ied io :my dre eirehle meneer, 'for ioelance hy hood placed chori?,- the some loot nel; shown. On 'the mlelviori llerciiore of the 'Wheel the Spur gem.' 33 will he operated lzo revolve the i oyerming pin 32, th end o'l" the r being iii the po lf smid, phi 3E und lche Shelf or Support i g notched es el; lo to proc/11de for the p1 of seid pio.

the Wheel 33 rolietee i 32 nl. 'he ioilolz will cogolin-a e will of Spring und Will .mid oorlog c Wiiwerd from the full 'position in. lo to. the dotted line il viee. end when seid pin p free of :smid spring `the letter will he re ed F1o thehilx croi-lily upward al; e, very room. rele of Speed ood thereby etrihe the heli re Aidg there- 'i'lioo in said 10o chore vihh e'oiiieient torce 'to ehocf, seid hoi m5 ojggzovard, entirely through the ruhe 29 wo. chore the hopper 7.,

'oo oeillet f 1o. Socie Suitable mg 3S coiled 4@hout the rione ol." wh h heer hy the their-co1 :i e ,L de 39 on the inner :silice of the two en lerung orme 1.7. Soul orwerdmg member l5 1e chown provided on lie outer eide with. e Wing 4G constituting a slziteole delve member und which on the working or lhdi'z'mciicg movement of Seid belhforwardieg; member cioeee the mouth or delivery end or' the' tube 14 :uid thereby preveofe the es cope oi; the baille therefrom el euch time.

The spring 9.7 is; lon-`- The [ripe is provided will] e lateral Wing 4 1 life near ite discharge end, and "which is precti cally swept oy the open side of seid hell forwarding device to thereby prevent the lsrlei'el movement of the bells when seid for- Werding device is in its advanced relation, we

it, being remembered that the opposite or outer side of the'said ball forwarding member is closed .by the Wall 16.

To operate the ball forwarding member l5 any suitable means may be provided. For this purposel have shown the pin 32 already described Which answers satisfactorily, said pin on the rotation of the said gear being adapted-to ride along the outer side face ot" the forwarding member supporting arm 17 to thereby swing the ball forwarding member l5 from ball receiving to ball shifting position, and when said operating pin 32 has'passed out of engagement. with the coperating arm 17 the said forwarding member 1,5 is returned to its initial position by the spring 38. After said pin 32 has shifted and then released the forwarding member l5 tp cause the positioning of a ball,

it will shift 'and then release the spring 27 so that the latter can project said ball upward in the manner already set forth.

The discharge end ot the tubev 29 is controlled by a valve or equivalent member, and the (lap 43 ansa-'ers satisfactorily in this connection, said valve being fastened to the roclr shaft 44- sustained by a suitable bearing near the upper open end of the tube 29. Associated 'with the le is a second rock shaft supported by bearings as 46 rising from the annular plate l0 to which l have already referred. Fastened to the shaft 45 is a roel; arm et? to which the linlr 48 is pivoted, said link being likewise `connected to a crank arm 43" fastened to the shaft of the spur gear 33. The shaft Liis provided with a rock arm d?) connected by the link 50 with. the crank arm 5l on the shafted, and the parts are so related that just after a ball has been projected from the tube 29, the flap Y d3 will be swung down to close the upper t said tube and thereby prevent said 'iintering the same from above as the same tells, it being the intention that the ball should pass directly into the hopper 8. After the valve is moved to closed position, it will, of course, be again opened by the mechanism described. lt is not essential .of course to employ a valve of the character noted for the purpose mentioned .nor is it that the valve be operated by mechanism such as that describedtand the same observation in fact applies to the other Darts herein described.

ttached` to the shaft is a brush 52 .'ivhich oscillates as the shaft 4:5 rocks, over the discharge opening er' the hopper 'T and Awhich by its action prevents the balls from clogging or Aeheh-ing said discharge ppening .ano naturally thererore/ insures said balls leaving said opening singly or one at a time.

lil/hat l claim is:

l. ,fx target projecting machine comprising ay hopper, a tube extending into the said hopper from below the same, means for projecting a movable object through said tube, and means for closing at a predetermined point, the discharge portion of said tube.

2. A target projecting machine comprising a hopper, a tube, means for projecting a movable object through said tube, the hopper being in position to receive the movable object on its descent, and means for closing the discharge portion of said tube, at a predetermined point.

3. A target projecting machine comprising a hopper, a tube, means for projecting a movable. object through said tube, the hopper being in position to receive said movable 'object on its descent, means for conducting said object from the hopper to a point where it can be projected through said tube, and means for positively clearing the discharge end of said hopper.

4. A target projecting machine comprising a hopper, a pipe depending from said hopper, a tube, means for projecting amovable object through said tube, the hopper being in position to receive said movable 0bject on'its descent, means for conducting the movable object from the pipe to a point Where it. can be projected through said tube, Yand means for positively sweeping across the outlet of said'hopper.

A target projecting machine comprising a tube, a support for an object, means for forcibly impelling said object from said support through said tube, a container into which the object falls, a pipe depending from said container, a rest for receiving the object from said pipe, and means for conducting said object from said restl to said` support.

6. A. target projecting machine comprising a tube, a support for an object, means for forcibly iinpelling said object from said vsupport. through said tube, a hopper into which the. object. falls, a pipe depending from the hopper, a rest for the object after it passes from the pipe, and mechanism for closing the discharge end 'of said. pipe, and for also conducting the object from said resttoesaid support.

7. A. target projecting machine comprising a passage, a. support for an object, means for forcibly impelling said object from said support through said passage, a container into which the object falls, a' rest, a duct for 'conveying the object from said container ject through said passage, a hopper into which the object falls, a duct leading from said hopper for the passage oi said object, arest at the `delivery end of the duct onto "which said object is ndaped to pass from said doot, an object iioiwoI-dng dovioo, menus for opL-xifat-ng Suid. object forwarding' device to l'iiovo the object from swirl rest, zmdm way lending* from 'he rest 'to Said support und along; which said object mhlpiod io travel.

9. A target piojecfii'ig .machine complr.' ingn pngwaggo, :1 sommi-t for :i movable. ohjaar, moons 'for forcibly projecting* smid ohject lthroufjh Suid pussszlgo fri id` swfoort, u hopper imo which tho'oiiijfmt is a .pwd to full, n hm 'For loading; Hw objef'i, from tho hopper. a Post onto which he ohja-ict is ndnpiwi to puse; from said duct, im object J`o1'\\'.ufn;1 device. for shifting tho ohjoo; from 11M i'ost, und for' @ausilio its .olovelnoiit toward said support, sai ob* i. suppo'l.u 2; fhivoo having :l valve :for cloing the outlet of said hm` on the working' iiovomeiii of said ioi'wurrfliug device.

10. A mig-ot projecting machine oflimprieN ing' f1 imssago, :1 support for f1 movable oh` ject. moans for forcibly liriojec-.tiug Said ohject through said pz'issnge'fyon Said support, :1 hopper into which the object is adopted ifo fall, a duct foi? leading the object from 'ho hopper, a rest onto which the object is adapted to pass from Suid duct, au object forwardingdevice for shifting' tho object Lomoao )oot through smid passage from :said Sup port, v. hopper into which the object is adapted to fail, :i duct for lozuiiug the objoot from the hopper, :1 'Vest 0111.10 which, the oh'ort 'isa anpted to pass from Suid chiot. :m ohjf `5 iforwoi'diiig doi/ico for 'Wing' tho object *from said ion-si'. and for .:fulsing its moifomonh Romani said suppolri. said ohj..n:i`.

suiimolivinf device havin@ n 'who for' dos@ l. i rw t? ing); the outlet of said '.hic'b on tho working dilomnifen'u of said forwarding ovioo. and

menus for posl'voy provonthig tho hopper from boing clog-god at it@ outlet.

lo testimol'ly whereof I zuhx my sigimtm'o in ii'osence o two W'itmsses.

IRA. L. .'IEVES.

\"\7it1iesses Turm/mfr U. CU'iLER, ELLA H. JACOBS. 

